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{{Greyhawk Deity|fgcolor=#fff|
{{Deity
image=[[Image:Kyuss01.jpg]]|
|image       = [[Image:Kyuss01.jpg]]
caption=Kyuss, Herald of the [[Age of Worms]], as depicted on the cover of ''[[Dungeon]]'' #135 (2006). Art by Wayne Reynolds.|
|caption     = Kyuss, Herald of the [[Age of Worms]], as depicted on the cover of ''[[Dungeon]]'' #135 (2006). Art by Wayne Reynolds.
bgcolor=#000|
|name        =
fgcolor=#fff|
|alt_spelling =  
name=Kyuss|
|titles      = The Wormgod, the Bonemaster, the Herald of the Age of Worms
title=The Wormgod, the Bonemaster, the Herald of the Age of Worms|
|home         = [[Material Plane]]
home=[[Prime Material Plane]]|
|rank        = Hero-deity
power=Hero-deity|
|gender       = Male
gender=Male|
|class       = Cleric 8/sorcerer 8/true necromancer 14
class=Cleric 8/sorcerer 8/true necromancer 14|
|alignment   = Neutral evil
alignment=Neutral evil|
|portfolio   = Creation and Mastery of the Undead
portfolio=Creation and Mastery of the Undead|
|domains     = Death, Destruction, Evil, Corruption
domains=Death, Destruction, Evil, Corruption|
|alt_name    = None
alias=None|
|super       = [[Nerull]]
super=[[Nerull]]|
}}
}}
'''Kyuss''' (pronounced kai-OOSS) is a demigod concerned with the Creation and Mastery of the Undead. Known as the Bonemaster, the Wormgod, and the Herald of the [[Age of Worms]], his symbol is a skull erupting with writhing green worms.
'''Kyuss''' (pronounced kai-OOSS) is a demigod concerned with the Creation and Mastery of the Undead. Known as the Bonemaster, the Wormgod, and the Herald of the [[Age of Worms]], his symbol is a skull erupting with writhing green worms.
Line 28: Line 27:


==Dogma==
==Dogma==
Kyuss's faithful believe that life is an obscenity, albeit a temporary one, and that Death offers only nothingness. Undeath, then, is the only worthwhile goal, and followers of Kyuss are encouraged to spread this gift as far as they can. They are permitted to control them if necessary, but encouraged to set them free to do as they will when their creators have no further use. Undead are sacred to Kyuss, and his followers are not permitted to destroy them except in self-defense.
Kyuss's faithful believe that life is an obscenity, albeit a temporary one, and that Death offers only nothingness. Undeath, then, is the only worthwhile goal, and followers of Kyuss are encouraged to spread this gift as far as they can. They are permitted to control them if necessary but encouraged to set them free to do as they will when their creators have no further use. Undead are sacred to Kyuss, and his followers are not permitted to destroy them except in self-defense.


===Scriptures===
===Scriptures===
Line 34: Line 33:


==Worshipers==
==Worshipers==
[[Image:Kyuss Holy Symbol.png|right|150px]]Kyuss is worshiped by [[human]]s, undead, [[avolakia]], and [[ulgurstasta]]. The [[Ebon Triad]] is a false cult created by worshippers of Kyuss. [[Edwin Tolstoff]] and his grandchildren, [[Edgar Tolstoff]] and [[Katarin Tolstoff]], are servants of Kyuss.
Kyuss is worshiped by [[human]]s, undead, [[avolakia]], and [[ulgurstasta]]. The [[Ebon Triad]] is a false cult created by worshippers of Kyuss. [[Edwin Tolstoff]] and his grandchildren, [[Edgar Tolstoff]] and [[Katarin Tolstoff]], are servants of Kyuss.


===Clergy===
===Clergy===
Clerics of Kyuss raid graveyards to create undead, selling their creations or letting them run wild. The more powerful ones seek to create new kinds of undead, and seek lichdom or some other form of undeath for themselves. They seek to free their master, and travel to various places holy to their faith such as the Wormcrawl Fissure, the Necropolis of [[Unaagh]], or the ruins of [[Kuluth-Mar]].
Clerics of Kyuss raid graveyards to create undead, selling their creations or letting them run wild. The more powerful ones seek to create new kinds of undead and seek lichdom or some other form of undeath for themselves. They seek to free their master, and travel to various places holy to their faith such as the Wormcrawl Fissure, the Necropolis of [[Unaagh]], or the ruins of [[Kuluth-Mar]].


==History==
==History==
[[Image:Kyuss02.jpg|left]]
[[Image:Kyuss02.jpg|left]]
Once a human priest of [[Nerull]] in the [[Flan]] kingdom of [[Sulm]], Kyuss was exiled from that realm over 2,000 years ago, fleeing to the [[Amedio Jungle]] with his followers. After founding the city of [[Kuluth-Mar]] and encountering the [[spell weaver]] [[lich]] [[Mak'ar]], Kyuss constructed the [[Spire of Long Shadows]], where he sacrificed all of his followers to achieve hero-deityhood. Prior to this, he had sacrificed artifacts of great power, as well as living souls to Nerull in order to gain his favor. When he finally did ascend, there was a small problem with his transformation: he became trapped in the same obelisk with which he channeled his power. Somehow Kyuss was not able to properly channel the power he gained from the sacrificed lives and faith of his followers, and the altar of Nerull was consumed in a burst of necrotic energy. Perhaps Nerull (not wanting to be challenged even slightly) intentionally flawed the ritual, or perhaps the unintentional interference of [[Mellifleur]] was to blame.   
Once a human priest of [[Nerull]] in the [[Flan]] kingdom of [[Sulm]],{{cite dungeon|130 |71|Spire of Long Shadows}}{{refn|name=deity |group=note|In almost all sources, Kyuss is referred to as a priest or high priest.  However, the deity he worshipped is less clear and is named variously.  In some sources, it is an unnamed "forgotten deity"{{cite dragon|336|61|Ecology of the Spawn of Kyuss}} while in others it is named as [[Orcus]].{{csb|VGtM|192}}{{csb|MotM|225}} In regards to being a Greyhawk deity, the deity Kyuss worshipped is specifically identified as [[Nerull]].{{cite dungeon|130 |71|Spire of Long Shadows}} }} Kyuss was exiled from that realm over 2,000 years ago, fleeing to the [[Amedio Jungle]] with his followers. After founding the city of [[Kuluth-Mar]] and encountering the [[spell weaver]] [[lich]] [[Mak'ar]], Kyuss constructed the [[Spire of Long Shadows]], where he sacrificed all of his followers to achieve hero-deityhood. Prior to this, he had sacrificed artifacts of great power, as well as living souls to Nerull to gain his favor. When he finally did ascend, there was a problem with his transformation: he became trapped in the same obelisk with which he channeled his power. Somehow Kyuss was not able to properly channel the power he gained from the sacrificed lives and faith of his followers, and the altar of Nerull was consumed in a burst of necrotic energy. Perhaps Nerull (not wanting to be challenged even slightly) intentionally flawed the ritual, or perhaps the unintentional interference of [[Mellifleur]] was to blame.   


Even during his imprisonment, he gained following from some very powerful followers. [[Dragotha]], a wyrm red dragon, was allowed by Kyuss to attain the form of a dracolich. Following this, Dragotha was bound to serve Kyuss, and in the process became his herald. Another draconic follower of Kyuss is [[Lashonna]], a vampiric silver dragon.
Even during his imprisonment, he gained following from some immensely powerful followers. [[Dragotha]], a wyrm red dragon, was allowed by Kyuss to attain the form of a dracolich. Following this, Dragotha was bound to serve Kyuss, and in the process became his herald. Another draconic follower of Kyuss is [[Lashonna]], a vampiric silver dragon.


Kyuss is responsible for the creation of the [[spawn of Kyuss]], also known as sons of Kyuss, though these are said to be the least powerful of his creations. He is also believed to be responsible for the creation of the avolakia, [[eviscerator beetle]], ulgurstasta, [[Kyuss knight]], [[overworm]], [[earthcancer centipede]], [[hound of Kyuss]], [[sword of Kyuss]], [[wormcaller]], [[worm naga]], [[wormswarm]], and the [[worm that walks]]. Collectively, his creations are known as [[wormspawn]].
Kyuss is responsible for the creation of the '''[[spawn of Kyuss]]''', originally known as '''sons of Kyuss''', though these are said to be the least powerful of his creations. He is also responsible for the creation of the [[avolakia]], [[eviscerator beetle]], [[ulgurstasta]], [[Kyuss knight]], [[overworm]], [[earthcancer centipede]], [[hound of Kyuss]], [[scion of Kyuss]], [[sword of Kyuss]], [[wormcaller]], [[worm naga]], [[wormswarm]], and the [[worm that walks]]. Collectively, his creations are known as [[wormspawn]].


Kyuss is the force behind the establishment of the [[Ebon Triad]], as revealed in the Age of Worms adventure path.
Kyuss is the force behind the establishment of the [[Ebon Triad]], as revealed in the Age of Worms adventure path.


==Publishing history==
==Publishing history==
The sons of Kyuss, now referred to as spawn of Kyuss, were an iconic monster in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game before the story of Kyuss was fleshed out. Kyuss was described as "an evil high priest who created the first of these creatures, via a special curse, under instruction from an evil deity" within their creature description in the first edition ''[[Fiend Folio]]'' (1981).
The sons of Kyuss, now referred to as spawn of Kyuss, were an iconic monster in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game before the story of Kyuss was fleshed out. Kyuss was described as "an evil high priest who created the first of these creatures, via a special curse, under instruction from an evil deity" within their creature description in the first edition ''Fiend Folio'' (1981).


Hints at Kyuss's origins were soon added in ''[[Rary the Traitor]]'', when sons of Kyuss were said to be contained in the Necropolis of Unaagh, a cursed city of Sulm inhabited by undead. This was made more conspicuous since any of the contained undead that "move or are carried even a few yards from its buildings collapse into inanimate heaps of bone." This is suggested in the work to be the possible consequence of an ancient curse. That makes the creator of the undead ancient as well, painting Kyuss as once having been a high priest in Sulm.
Hints at Kyuss's origins were soon added in ''[[Rary the Traitor]]'', when sons of Kyuss were said to be contained in the Necropolis of Unaagh, a cursed city of Sulm inhabited by undead. This was made more conspicuous since any of the contained undead that "move or are carried even a few yards from its buildings collapse into inanimate heaps of bone." This is suggested in the work to be the possible consequence of an ancient curse. That makes the creator of the undead ancient as well, painting Kyuss as once having been a high priest in Sulm.


In the ''[[From the Ashes]]'' boxed set (''Atlas of the Flanaess'', page 69), the entry for [[Matreyus Lake|the Storm Lake of the Amedio]] mentioned that sons of Kyuss manifest in the vicinity after a phenomenon called the Storm of Unknowing.
In the ''[[From the Ashes]]'' boxed set (''Atlas of the Flanaess'', page 69), the entry for [[Lake Matreyus|the Storm Lake of the Amedio]] mentioned that sons of Kyuss manifest in the vicinity after a phenomenon called the Storm of Unknowing.


Later, in ''[[Iuz the Evil]]'' the home of the "infamous evil priest Kyuss" was claimed to have been the [[Wormcrawl Fissure]], a "mile-long ravine away from the main body of the [[Rift Canyon]]."
Later, in ''[[Iuz the Evil]]'' the home of the "infamous evil priest Kyuss" was claimed to have been the [[Wormcrawl Fissure]], a "mile-long ravine away from the main body of the [[Rift Canyon]]."


Still later, in ''[[The Scarlet Brotherhood]]'' by [[Sean K. Reynolds]], the entry for [[Matreyus Lake]] said, "undead such as sons of Kyuss walk the nearby jungle - the evil demigod is said to have spent time here."
Still later, in ''[[The Scarlet Brotherhood]]'' by [[Sean K. Reynolds]], the entry for [[Lake Matreyus|Matreyus Lake]] said, "undead such as sons of Kyuss walk the nearby jungle—the evil demigod is said to have spent time here."


==Kyuss in popular culture==  
==Kyuss in popular culture==  
Rock band Kyuss, originally Sons of Kyuss, took their name from the character.[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dzfqxq85ldte~T1]
[[wikipedia:Stoner Rock|Stoner Rock]] band [[wikipedia:Kyuss|Kyuss]] (originally [[wikipedia:Sons of Kyuss|Sons of Kyuss]]), who were one of the pioneers of [[wikipedia:Stoner Rock|their genre]], took their name from the character.[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dzfqxq85ldte~T1]


==Bibliography==
== External links ==
{{External link disclaimer}}
*[http://dovearrow.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/elder-evils-and-the-feminine-divine/ "Elder Evils and the Feminine Divine"].
*[http://www.www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=243 "Kyuss's Ascension to Divinity" at ''Canonfire!].
*[http://www.www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=921 "Mellifleur and Kyuss" at ''Canonfire!].
*[http://www.www.canonfire.com/cf/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=228 "The Origins of Kyuss" at ''Canonfire!].
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyuss_(Greyhawk) Kyuss at Wikipedia]
 
== References ==
=== Notes ===
<references group="note" />
=== Citations ===
<references />
=== Bibliography ===
[[Image:Kyuss_Holy_Symbol.png|thumb|200px|right|Kyuss's holy symbol.]]
*[[Wolfgang Baur|Baur, Wolfgang]]. "A Gathering of Winds." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #129. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*[[Wolfgang Baur|Baur, Wolfgang]]. "A Gathering of Winds." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #129. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*Boucher, Grant, ''et al''. ''[[Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
*Boucher, Grant, ''et al''. ''[[Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
*[[Jason Bulmahn|Bulmahn, Jason]]. "The Hall of Harsh Reflections." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #127. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*[[Jason Bulmahn|Bulmahn, Jason]]. "The Hall of Harsh Reflections." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #127. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*Conforti, Steven, ed. ''[[Living Greyhawk]] Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign,'' version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip]
*Conforti, Steven, ed. ''[[Living Greyhawk]] Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign,'' version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[http://www.wizards.com/rpga/downloads/LG_Deities.zip]
*[[Bruce R. Cordell|Cordell, Bruce]], Eytan Bernstein, Brian James, Robin Laws, and John Snead. ''Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009. [http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/9780786950690 excerpts]
*[[Bruce R. Cordell|Cordell, Bruce]], Eytan Bernstein, Brian James, Robin Laws, and John Snead. ''Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009. [http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/9780786950690 excerpts]
*[[Jesse Decker|Decker, Jesse]]. "The [[Spire of Long Shadows]]." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #130. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*[[Jesse Decker|Decker, Jesse]]. "The [[Spire of Long Shadows]]." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #130. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*-----. "Worm Bound: The Secrets of Kyuss." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #343. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
:———. "Worm Bound: The Secrets of Kyuss." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #343. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
 
*[[Jacobs, James]]. "The Ecology of the [[Spawn of Kyuss]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #336. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*[[Jacobs, James]]. "The Ecology of the [[Spawn of Kyuss]]." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #336. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*-----. "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #134. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
:———. "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #134. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
 
*[[Leati, Tito]]. "The Champion's Belt." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #128. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*[[Leati, Tito]]. "The Champion's Belt." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #128. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*-----. "Dawn of a New Age." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #135. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
:———. "Dawn of a New Age." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #135. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
 
*[[Logue, Nicholas]]. "The Library of Last Resort." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #132. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*[[Logue, Nicholas]]. "The Library of Last Resort." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #132. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*[[Mike Mearls|Mearls, Mike]]. "The Three Faces of Evil." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #125. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*[[Mike Mearls|Mearls, Mike]]. "The Three Faces of Evil." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #125. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*[[Erik Mona|Mona, Erik]]. ''[[Age of Worms]] Overload.'' Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005. Available online: [http://paizo.com/dungeon/news/v5748eaic9jzc]
*[[Erik Mona|Mona, Erik]]. ''[[Age of Worms]] Overload.'' Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005. Available online: [http://paizo.com/dungeon/news/v5748eaic9jzc]
*-----. "Backdrop: Diamond Lake." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
:———. "[[Backdrop: Diamond Lake]]." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*-----. "The Whispering Cairn." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
:———. "The Whispering Cairn." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
 
*[[Pett, Richard]]. "The Prince of [[Redhand]]." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #131. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*[[Pett, Richard]]. "The Prince of [[Redhand]]." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #131. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
*[[Anthony Pryor|Pryor, Anthony]]. ''[[Rary the Traitor]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
*[[Anthony Pryor|Pryor, Anthony]]. ''[[Rary the Traitor]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
*[[Sean K. Reynolds|Reynolds, Sean K]]. "Encounter at Blackwall Keep." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #126. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*[[Sean K. Reynolds|Reynolds, Sean K]]. "Encounter at Blackwall Keep." ''[[Dungeon]]'' #126. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
*[[Reynolds, Sean K.]], [[Frederick Weining]], and [[Erik Mona]]. "Blood of Heroes." ''[[Living Greyhawk Journal]]'' #3. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
*[[Reynolds, Sean K.]], [[Frederick Weining]], and [[Erik Mona]]. "Blood of Heroes." ''[[Living Greyhawk Journal]]'' #3. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
*[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[Iuz the Evil]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
*[[Carl Sargent|Sargent, Carl]]. ''[[Iuz the Evil]]''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1993.
*[[Robert J. Schwalb|Schwalb, Robert J.]] ''Elder Evils.'' Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
*[[Robert J. Schwalb|Schwalb, Robert J.]] ''Elder Evils.'' Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
*-----. ''Exemplars of Evil''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
:———. ''Exemplars of Evil''. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
 
*Turnbull, Don, ed. ''Fiend Folio''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
*Turnbull, Don, ed. ''Fiend Folio''. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.
 
{{index}}
==External links==
*[http://dovearrow.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/elder-evils-and-the-feminine-divine/ "Elder Evils and the Feminine Divine"].
 
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=243 "Kyuss's Ascension to Divinity" at ''Canonfire!].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=921 "Mellifleur and Kyuss" at ''Canonfire!].
*[http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=228 "The Origins of Kyuss" at ''Canonfire!].
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyuss_(Greyhawk) Kyuss at Wikipedia]




[[Category:Aberrant deities]]
[[Category:Characters of the Amedio Jungle]]
[[Category:Characters of the Amedio Jungle]]
[[Category:Characters of the Bandit Kingdoms]]
[[Category:Characters of the Bandit Kingdoms]]
Line 124: Line 111:
[[Category:Human characters]]
[[Category:Human characters]]
[[Category:Human deities]]
[[Category:Human deities]]
[[Category:Undead deities]]
[[Category:Undead characters]]
[[Category:Deities of undeath]]

Latest revision as of 06:10, 28 April 2025

Greyhawk Divinity
Kyuss
Kyuss, Herald of the Age of Worms, as depicted on the cover of Dungeon #135 (2006). Art by Wayne Reynolds.
Names and titles
Alias(es):None
Title(s):The Wormgod, the Bonemaster, the Herald of the Age of Worms
General information
Portfolio:Creation and Mastery of the Undead
Home:Material Plane
Alignment:Neutral evil
Gender:Male
Class:Cleric 8/sorcerer 8/true necromancer 14
Superior:Nerull
Rules items
Domains:Death, Destruction, Evil, Corruption
Divine rank:Hero-deity

Kyuss (pronounced kai-OOSS) is a demigod concerned with the Creation and Mastery of the Undead. Known as the Bonemaster, the Wormgod, and the Herald of the Age of Worms, his symbol is a skull erupting with writhing green worms.

Description

In his divine form, Kyuss appears as a towering humanoid shaped entirely of green Kyuss worms, with two blazing eyes peering from beneath the hood of his ragged cloak.

Relationships

Though Kyuss revered Nerull as a mortal, his current relationship with the Reaper is unknown.

Realm

For over 1,500 years, Kyuss has been imprisoned within an obelisk in the Wormcrawl Fissure, in a chamber known as the Writhing Sanctum. Very recently, this obelisk was moved to the city of Alhaster.

Dogma

Kyuss's faithful believe that life is an obscenity, albeit a temporary one, and that Death offers only nothingness. Undeath, then, is the only worthwhile goal, and followers of Kyuss are encouraged to spread this gift as far as they can. They are permitted to control them if necessary but encouraged to set them free to do as they will when their creators have no further use. Undead are sacred to Kyuss, and his followers are not permitted to destroy them except in self-defense.

Scriptures

The holiest text of Kyuss's faith is a set of metal plates foretelling a coming Age of Worms, which Kyuss unearthed from spell weaver ruins in the Amedio Jungle.

Worshipers

Kyuss is worshiped by humans, undead, avolakia, and ulgurstasta. The Ebon Triad is a false cult created by worshippers of Kyuss. Edwin Tolstoff and his grandchildren, Edgar Tolstoff and Katarin Tolstoff, are servants of Kyuss.

Clergy

Clerics of Kyuss raid graveyards to create undead, selling their creations or letting them run wild. The more powerful ones seek to create new kinds of undead and seek lichdom or some other form of undeath for themselves. They seek to free their master, and travel to various places holy to their faith such as the Wormcrawl Fissure, the Necropolis of Unaagh, or the ruins of Kuluth-Mar.

History

Once a human priest of Nerull in the Flan kingdom of Sulm,[1][note 1] Kyuss was exiled from that realm over 2,000 years ago, fleeing to the Amedio Jungle with his followers. After founding the city of Kuluth-Mar and encountering the spell weaver lich Mak'ar, Kyuss constructed the Spire of Long Shadows, where he sacrificed all of his followers to achieve hero-deityhood. Prior to this, he had sacrificed artifacts of great power, as well as living souls to Nerull to gain his favor. When he finally did ascend, there was a problem with his transformation: he became trapped in the same obelisk with which he channeled his power. Somehow Kyuss was not able to properly channel the power he gained from the sacrificed lives and faith of his followers, and the altar of Nerull was consumed in a burst of necrotic energy. Perhaps Nerull (not wanting to be challenged even slightly) intentionally flawed the ritual, or perhaps the unintentional interference of Mellifleur was to blame.

Even during his imprisonment, he gained following from some immensely powerful followers. Dragotha, a wyrm red dragon, was allowed by Kyuss to attain the form of a dracolich. Following this, Dragotha was bound to serve Kyuss, and in the process became his herald. Another draconic follower of Kyuss is Lashonna, a vampiric silver dragon.

Kyuss is responsible for the creation of the spawn of Kyuss, originally known as sons of Kyuss, though these are said to be the least powerful of his creations. He is also responsible for the creation of the avolakia, eviscerator beetle, ulgurstasta, Kyuss knight, overworm, earthcancer centipede, hound of Kyuss, scion of Kyuss, sword of Kyuss, wormcaller, worm naga, wormswarm, and the worm that walks. Collectively, his creations are known as wormspawn.

Kyuss is the force behind the establishment of the Ebon Triad, as revealed in the Age of Worms adventure path.

Publishing history

The sons of Kyuss, now referred to as spawn of Kyuss, were an iconic monster in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game before the story of Kyuss was fleshed out. Kyuss was described as "an evil high priest who created the first of these creatures, via a special curse, under instruction from an evil deity" within their creature description in the first edition Fiend Folio (1981).

Hints at Kyuss's origins were soon added in Rary the Traitor, when sons of Kyuss were said to be contained in the Necropolis of Unaagh, a cursed city of Sulm inhabited by undead. This was made more conspicuous since any of the contained undead that "move or are carried even a few yards from its buildings collapse into inanimate heaps of bone." This is suggested in the work to be the possible consequence of an ancient curse. That makes the creator of the undead ancient as well, painting Kyuss as once having been a high priest in Sulm.

In the From the Ashes boxed set (Atlas of the Flanaess, page 69), the entry for the Storm Lake of the Amedio mentioned that sons of Kyuss manifest in the vicinity after a phenomenon called the Storm of Unknowing.

Later, in Iuz the Evil the home of the "infamous evil priest Kyuss" was claimed to have been the Wormcrawl Fissure, a "mile-long ravine away from the main body of the Rift Canyon."

Still later, in The Scarlet Brotherhood by Sean K. Reynolds, the entry for Matreyus Lake said, "undead such as sons of Kyuss walk the nearby jungle—the evil demigod is said to have spent time here."

Stoner Rock band Kyuss (originally Sons of Kyuss), who were one of the pioneers of their genre, took their name from the character.[1]

Disclaimer:Any lore presented through the following links does not necessarily adhere to established officially published content, and the views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki.

References

Notes

  1. ↑ In almost all sources, Kyuss is referred to as a priest or high priest. However, the deity he worshipped is less clear and is named variously. In some sources, it is an unnamed "forgotten deity"[2] while in others it is named as Orcus.[3][4] In regards to being a Greyhawk deity, the deity Kyuss worshipped is specifically identified as Nerull.[1]

Citations

  1. ↑ a b "Spire of Long Shadows". Dungeon #130 (Jan 2006), p.71
  2. ↑ "Ecology of the Spawn of Kyuss".  Dragon #336 (Oct 2005), p.61.
  3. ↑ Volo's Guide to Monsters (2016), p.192.
  4. ↑ Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (2021), p.225.

Bibliography

Kyuss's holy symbol.
———. "Worm Bound: The Secrets of Kyuss." Dragon #343. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
———. "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure." Dungeon #134. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
———. "Dawn of a New Age." Dungeon #135. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2006.
———. "Backdrop: Diamond Lake." Dungeon #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
———. "The Whispering Cairn." Dungeon #124. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
———. Exemplars of Evil. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2007.
  • Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1981.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Hound of Kyuss Monster Dragon magazine #270 75
Kyuss Deity Bastion of Faith 42, 87
Kyuss Deity Dragon magazine #270 72, 75
Kyuss Deity Dragon magazine #276 84, 85, 88, 89
Kyuss Deity Dragon magazine #290 103
Kyuss Deity Dragon magazine #344 85
Kyuss Deity Dragon magazine #356 21
Kyuss Deity Dragon magazine #359 97
Kyuss Deity Living Greyhawk Gazetteer 31
Kyuss Deity Living Greyhawk Journal #1 23, 24
Kyuss Deity Living Greyhawk Journal #2 31
Kyuss Deity Living Greyhawk Journal #3 13, 19
Kyuss Deity Living Greyhawk Journal #5 22
Kyuss Deity Oerth Journal #08 16
Kyuss Deity Oerth Journal #11 42,47,48
Kyuss Deity Oerth Journal #16 5
Kyuss Deity Oerth Journal #25 24
Kyuss Deity Oerth Journal #27 19
Kyuss Deity Oerth Journal #31 4
Kyuss Deity Oerth Journal #32 41
Kyuss Deity Player's Guide to Greyhawk 20
Kyuss Deity The Scarlet Brotherhood 67
Kyuss Deity WGR5 Iuz the Evil 54
Kyuss, Sons of Monster LT2 Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad 34
Kyuss, Sons of Monster Fiend Folio, AD&D 1e 83
Kyuss, Sons of Monster From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess 69
Kyuss, Sons of Monster From the Ashes: References Card #11
Kyuss, Sons of Monster I7 Baltron's Beacon 29
Kyuss, Sons of Monster Living Greyhawk Journal #1 23-24
Kyuss, Sons of Monster Living Greyhawk Journal #5 22
Kyuss, Sons of Monster Monstrous Compendium - 1996 Annual, Volume 3 69
Kyuss, Sons of Monster MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix Insert (Kyuss, Son of), Encounter Tables
Kyuss, Sons of Monster Return of the Eight 17
Kyuss, Sons of Monster 1993 TSR Trading Cards - Gold Set 116
Kyuss, Sons of Monster The Scarlet Brotherhood 67, 70, 71
Kyuss, Sons of Monster WGR3 Rary the Traitor 27
Kyuss, Sons of Monster WGR5 Iuz the Evil 78
Kyuss, Temple of (Brotton) Building Temple, Living Greyhawk Journal #2 31
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